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Geffen has finally dropped Elastica. They were bought out by Universal and have been dropping artists since, so this comes as no surprise. Elastica have finished recording their second album (after 6 years) and have not issued a statment.

November 17th is Jeff Buckley's birthday and there will be a special gig in New York Ciry featuring several special guests including Beth Orton. The show will be at the Angel Orensanz Foundation Centre for the Arts. Amazon.com will be hosting an auction on the same day and proceeds will go to the Road Recovery charity.

Fatboy Slim is makin' bank! NME reports that he has been named the quickest multi-millionaire in music history. The info came from the 1999 Rock Accounts report which also metions The Chemical Brothers and Jamiroquai in the top 10. Fatboy Slim made his money with the success of his latest album, "You've Come A Long Way, Baby" which came out over a year ago.

The Pet Shop Boys are working on a musical with playwright Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing). They will be using extra tracks that didn't make on their current release, "Nightlife". The play, which remains title-less, is expected to open next year if everything works out.

Monday (Nov. 8) night at the Viper Room was host to a benefit jam with the classic rock band War. Things started out normal enough with the current lineup playing original War tunes, plus a few covers but then a few guests came to help out. The extra performers included: Afghan Whigs singer Greg Dulli on guitars, the Propellerheads on keyboards and Natalie Cole came to assist with vocals! A few weeks ago Perry Farrel joined them on stage at another benefit.

Tiny Woods and Andy Peaace from the new defunct Ultrasound are starting up a new band with an old friend, Adam Taylor. They are currently looking for a bassist, a name, and a label. The trio are presently recording demos for their debut.

HAPPY MONDAYS in UK movie trailers? That seems to be the case since they have signed on with the sportswear firm, Admiral, NME reports. They will be in two ads which will be in theaters over the next few months. Who said the baggy scene is dead?

Oasis will release their new album, "Standing on the Shoulder of Giants" on February 28, 2000. The full tracklisting is as follows:

Fuckin' in the Bushes
Go Let it Out!
Who Feels Love?
Put Your Money Where Yer Mouth Is
Little James (written by Liam Gallagher)
Gas Panic!
Where Did it all Go Wrong?
Sunday Morning Call
I Can See a Liar
Roll It Over

Oasis will also be doing a radio-station tour in December. Check the Tour page for dates.

Distant, metallic noises. A small swirl of wind. A growing, sinister gasp of machines. And then, out of the haze and out of somewhere above, one of the most emotional bass-lines you've ever heard breaks out like cold sunshine. It is a singular, defining moment in "indie" music. One that has changed lives, saved lives, and has yet to be toppled with such grace in the past ten years. By the time the final chorus hits its climax, by the time you scream with pride, "I gotta be adored...," you've been instantly converted into nearly worshipping a band for the rest of your life. You have no choice.

That's just how it is.

NEW ORDER have recorded their first new song since 1993! The material will be used in the soundtrack to The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The film is created by the same team that brought us TRAINSPOTTING and SHALLOW GRAVE.

The working title of the track is, 'Brutal' and it remains unclear if it will be released as a single. A spokesperson for New Order did confirm that the band has gone back into the studio to record a full album which is due out next year.